the yellow crayon-第30部分

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The　Prince　leaned　forward　from　the　shadows　of　the　box。

〃I　invite　you　all；〃　he　said；　〃to　supper　with　me。　　It　is　something
of　an　occasion；　this！　　For　I　do　not　think　that　we　shall　all　meet
again　just　as　we　are　now　for　a　very　long　time。〃

〃Your　invitation；〃　Mr。　Sabin　remarked；　〃is　most　agreeable。　　But
your　suggestion　is；　to　say　the　least　of　it；　nebulous。　　I　do　not　see
what　is　to　prevent　your　all　having　supper　with　me　to…morrow　evening。

Lady　Carey　laughed　as　she　rose；　and　stretched　out　her　hand　for　her
cloak。

〃To…morrow　evening；〃　she　said；　〃is　a　long　way　off。　　Let　us　make
sure　of　to…night　…　before　the　Prince　changes　his　mind。〃

Mr。　Sabin　bowed　low。

〃To…night　by　all　means；〃　he　declared。　　〃But　my　invitation　remains
　…　a　challenge！〃


CHAPTER　XXXI

The　Prince；　being　host；　arranged　the　places　at　his　supper…table。
Mr。　Sabin　found　himself；　therefore；　between　Lady　Carey　and　a　young
German　attache；　whom　they　had　met　in　the　ante…room　of　the　restaurant。
Lucille　had　the　Prince　and　Mr。　Brott　on　either　side　of　her。

Lady　Carey　monopolised　at　first　the　greater　part　of　the　conversation。
Mr。　Sabin　was　unusually　silent。　　The　German　attache；　whose　name　was
Baron　von　Opperman；　did　not　speak　until　the　champagne　was　served；
when　he　threw　a　bombshell　into　the　midst　of　the　little　party。

〃I　hear；〃　he　said；　with　a　broad　and　seraphic　smile；　〃that　in　this
hotel　there　has　to…day　a　murder　been　committed。〃

Baron　von　Opperman　was　suddenly　the　cynosure　of　several　pairs　of
eyes。　　He　was　delighted　with　the　success　of　his　attempt　towards
the　general　entertainment。

〃The　evening　papers；〃　he　continued；　〃they　have　in　them　news　of　a
sudden　death。　　But　in　the　hotel　here　now　they　are　speaking　of
something　…　what　you　call　more　…　mysterious。　　There　has　been　ordered
an　examination　post…mortem！〃

〃It　is　a　case　of　poisoning　then；　I　presume？〃　the　Prince　asked；
leaning　forward。

〃It　is　so　supposed；〃　the　attache　answered。　　〃It　seems　that　the
doctors　could　find　no　trace　of　disease；　nothing　to　have　caused　death。
They　were　not　able　to　decide　anything。　　The　man；　they　said；　was　in
perfect　health　…　but　dead。〃

〃It　must　have　been；　then；〃　the　Prince　remarked；　〃a　very　wonderful
poison。〃

〃Without　doubt；〃　Baron　Opperman　answered。

The　Prince　sighed　gently。

〃There　are　many　such；〃　he　murmured。　　〃Indeed　the　science　of
toxicology　was　never　so　ill…understood　as　now。　　I　am　assured　that
there　are　many　poisons　known　only　to　a　few　chemists　in　the　world；　a
single　grain　of　which　is　sufficient　to　destroy　the　strongest　man
and　leave　not　the　slightest　trace　behind。　　If　the　poisoner　be
sufficiently　accomplished　he　can　pursue　his　…　calling　without　the
faintest　risk　of　detection。〃

Mr。　Sabin　sipped　his　wine　thoughtfully。

〃The　Prince　is；　I　believe；　right；〃　he　remarked。　　〃It　is　for　that
reason；　doubtless；　that　I　have　heard　of　men　whose　lives　have　been
threatened；　who　have　deposited　in　safe　places　a　sealed　statement　of
the　danger　in　which　they　find　themselves；　with　an　account　of　its
source；　so　that　if　they　should　come　to　an　end　in　any　way　mysterious
there　may　be　evidence　against　their　murderers。〃

〃A　very　reasonable　and　judicious　precaution；〃　the　Prince　remarked
with　glittering　eyes。　　〃Only　if　the　poison　was　indeed　of　such　a
nature　that　it　was　not　possible　to　trace　it　nothing　worse　than
suspicion　could　ever　be　the　lot　of　any　one。〃

Mr。　Sabin　helped　himself　carefully　to　salad；　and　resumed　the
discussion　with　his　next　course。

〃Perhaps　not；〃　he　admitted。　　〃But　you　must　remember　that　suspicion
is　of　itself　a　grievous　embarrassment。　　No　man　likes　to　feel　that
he　is　being　suspected　of　murder。　　By　the　bye；　is　it　known　whom　the
unfortunate　person　was？〃

〃The　servant　of　a　French　nobleman　who　is　staying　in　the　hotel；〃　Mr。
Brott　remarked。　　〃I　heard　as　much　as　that。〃

Mr。　Sabin　smiled。　　Lady　Carey　glanced　at　him　meaningly。

〃You　have　worried　the　Prince　quite　sufficiently；〃　she　whispered。
〃Change　the　subject。〃

Mr。　Sabin　bowed。

〃You　are　very　considerate　…　to　the　Prince；〃　he　said。

〃It　is　perhaps　for　your　sake；〃　she　answered。　　〃And　as　for　the　Prince
　…　well；　you　know；　or　you　should　know；　for　how　much　he　counts　with
me。〃

Mr。　Sabin　glanced　at　her　curiously。　　She　was　a　little　flushed　as
though　with　some　inward　excitement。　　Her　eyes　were　bright　and　soft。
Despite　a　certain　angularity　of　figure　and　her　hollow　cheeks　she　was
certainly　one　of　the　most　distinguished…looking　women　in　the　room。

〃You　are　so　dense；〃　she　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃wilfully　dense；
perhaps。　　You　will　not　understand　that　I　wish　to　be　your　friend。〃

He　smiled　with　gentle　deprecation。

〃Do　you　blame　me；〃　he　murmured；　〃if　I　seem　incredulous？　　For　I　am
an　old　man；　and　you　are　spoken　of　always　as　the　friend　of　my　enemy；
the　friend　of　the　Prince。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　she　said　thoughtfully；　〃if　this　is　really　the　secret
of　your　mistrust？　　Do　you　indeed　fear　that　I　have　no　other　interest
in　life　save　to　serve　Saxe　Leinitzer？〃

〃As　to　that；〃　he　answered；　〃I　cannot　say。　　Yet　I　know　that　only　a
few　months　ago　you　were　acting　under　orders　from　him。　　It　is　you
who　brought　Lucille　from　America。　　It　was　through　you　that　the　first
blow　was　struck　at　my　happiness。〃

〃Cannot　I　atone？〃　she　murmured　under　her　breath。　　〃If　I　can　I　will。
And　as　for　the　present；　well；　I　am　outside　his　schemes　now。　　Let　us
be　friends。　　You　would　find　me　a　very　valuable　ally。〃

〃Let　it　be　so；〃　he　answered　without　emotion。　　〃You　shall　help　me；
if　you　will；　to　regain　Lucille。　　I　promise　you　then　that　my　gratitude
shall　not　disappoint　you。〃

She　bit　her　lip。

〃And　are　you　sure；〃　she　whispered；　〃that　Lucille　is　anxious　to　be
won　back？　She　loves　intrigue；　excitement；　the　sense　of　being
concerned　in　important　doings。　　Besides　…　you　must　have　heard　what
they　say　about　her　…　and　Brott。　　Look　at　her　now。　　She　wears
her　grass　widowhood　lightly　enough。〃

Mr。　Sabin　looked　across　the　table。　　Lucille　had　indeed　all　the
appearance　of　a　woman　thoroughly　at　peace　with　the　world　and　herself。
Brott　was　talking　to　her　in　smothered　and　eager　undertones。　　The
Prince　was　waiting　for　an　opportunity　to　intervene。　　Mr。　Sabin
looked　into　Brott's　white　strong　face；　and　was　thoughtful。

〃It　is　a　great　power　…　the　power　of　my　sex；〃　Lady　Carey　continued；
with　a　faint；　subtle　smile。　　〃A　word　from　Lucille；　and　the　history
book　of　the　future　must　be　differently　written。〃

〃She　will　not　speak　that　word；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said。　　Lady　Carey　shrugged
her　shoulders。　　The　subtlety　of　her　smile　faded　away。　　Her　whole
face　expressed　a　contemptuous　and　self…assured　cynicism。

〃You　know　her　very　well；〃　she　murmured。　　〃Yet　she　and　I　are　no
strangers。　　She　is　one　who　loves　to　taste　…　no；　to　drink　…　deeply
of　all　the　experiences　of　life。　　Why　should　we　blame　her；　you　and
I？　　Have　we　not　the　same　desire？〃

Mr。　Sabin　lit　a　cigarette。

〃Once；　perhaps；〃　he　remarked。　　〃You　must　not　forget　that　I　am　no
longer　a　young　man。〃

She　leaned　towards　him。

〃You　will　die　young；〃　she　murmured。　　〃You　are　not　of　the　breed　of
men　who　grow　old。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　turn　my　head？〃　he　asked　her；　with　a　humorous　smile。

〃It　would　be　easier；〃　she　answered；　〃than　to　touch　your　heart。〃

Then　Lucille　looked　across　at　them　…　and　Mr。　Sabin　suddenly
remembered　that　Reginald　Brott　knew　them　both　only　as　strangers。

〃Muriel；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　behaving　disgracefully。〃

〃I　am　doing　my　best；〃　Lady　Carey　answered；　〃to　keep　you　in
countenance。〃

The　eyes　of　the　two　women　met　for　a　moment；　and　though　the　smiles
lingered　still　upon　their　faces　Lady　Carey　at　any　rate　was　not　able
to　wholly　conceal　her　hatred。　　Lucille　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃I　am　doing　my　best；〃　she　said；　〃to　convert　Mr。　Brott。〃

〃To　what？〃　Lady　Carey　asked。

〃To　a　sane　point　of　view　concerning　the　holiness　of　the　aristocracy；〃
Lucille　answered。　　〃I　am　afraid　though　that　I　have　made　very　little
impression。　　In　his　heart　I　believe　Mr。　Brott　would　like　to　see　us
all　working　for　our　living；　school…teachers　and　dressmakers；　and
that　sort　of　thing；　you　know。〃

Mr。　Brott　protested。

〃I　am　not　even；〃　he　declared；　〃moderately　advanced　in　my　views　as
regards　matters　of　your　sex。　　To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　do　not　like
women　to　work　at　all　outside　their　homes。〃

Lady　Carey　laughed。

〃My　dear；〃　she　said　to　Lucille；　〃you　and　I　may　as　well　retire　in
despair。　　Can't　you　see　the　sort　of　woman　Mr。　Brott　admires？　　She
isn't　like　us　a　bit。　　She　is　probably　a　healthy；　ruddy…cheeked
young　person　who　lives　in　the　country；　gets　up　to　breakfast　to　pour
out　the　coffee　for　some　sort　of　a　male　relative；　goes　round　the
garden　snipping　off　roses　in　big　gloves　and　a　huge　basket；　interviews
the　cook；　orders　the　dinner；　makes　fancy　waistcoats　for　her　husband；
and　failing　a　sewing　maid；　does　the　mending　for　the　family。　　You
and　I；　Lucille；　are　not　like　that。〃

〃Well；　you　have　mentioned　nothing　which　I　couldn't　do；　if　it　seemed
worth　while；〃　Lucille　objected。　　〃It　sounds　very　primitive　and
delightful。　　I　am　sure　we　are　all　too　luxurious　and　too　lazy。　　I
think　we　ought　to　turn　over　a　new　leaf。〃

〃For　you；　dear　Lucille；〃　Lady　Carey　said　with　suave　and　deadly
satire；　〃what　improvement　is　possible？　　You　have　all　that　you　could
desire。　　It　is　much　less　fortunate　persons；　such　as　myself；　to　whom
Utopia　must　seem　such　a　delightful　place。〃

A　frock…coated　and　altogether　immaculate　young　man　approached　their
table　and　accosted　Mr。　Sabin。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　manager　would　be　much
obliged　if　you　would　spare　him　a　moment　or　two　in　his　private　room
as　soon　as　possible。〃

Mr。　Sabin　nodded。

〃In　a　few　minutes；〃　he　answered。

The　little　party　broke　up　almost　immediately。　　Coffee　was　ordered
in　the　palm　court；　where　the　band　was　playing。　　Mr。　Sabin　and　the
Prince　fell　a　little　behind　the　others　on　the　way　out　of　the　room。

〃You　heard　my　summons？〃　Mr。　Sabin　asked。

〃Yes！〃

〃I　am　going　to　be　cross…examined　as　regards　Duson。　　I　am　no　longer
a　member　of　the　Order。　　What　is　to　prevent　my　setting　them　upon
the　right　track？〃

〃The　fact；〃　the　Prince　said　coolly；　〃that　you　are　hoping　one　day
to　recover　Lucille。〃

〃I　doubt；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃whether　you　are　strong　enough　to　keep
her　from　me。〃

The　Prince　smiled。　　All